Kazakhstan to build a new $10-B, 10-MMtpy refinery
Kazakhstan plans to launch a new $10-B, 10-MMtpy oil refinery by 2033 to boost fuel production, eliminate domestic shortages, and become a net exporter of refined petroleum products.
Vice Minister of Energy Kaiyrkhan Tutkyshbayev said the project will progress through feasibility studies, design, construction, and commissioning between 2026 and 2033. Once completed, the country’s total refining capacity will increase to 40 million tons annually, strengthening energy security and export potential.
The Energy Ministry has begun preparatory work, gathering data on crude supply sources, product demand forecasts, output configuration, technology providers, and site selection. These decisions are intended to ensure the refinery’s long-term competitiveness in regional and global markets.
The project forms part of a broader strategy to address fuel shortages. Upgrades to Kazakhstan’s three existing refineries between 2028 and 2030 are expected to cut the aviation fuel deficit from 500,000 tpy to 300,000 tpy and fully eliminate diesel shortages. Once the new refinery is operational in 2033, jet fuel shortages are expected to disappear entirely, with surplus diesel and gasoline available for export to neighboring countries.
In parallel, Kazakhstan aims to improve refining efficiency and fuel quality. Refining depth at existing plants will increase from 89% to 94%, while the new refinery is expected to achieve a 95% processing depth. Fuel standards will also be upgraded to the cleaner K5 environmental class, aligning the country with modern international environmental requirements.
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